A great swing begins with a smooth takeaway

Building a great swing: A good takeaway can be the difference between the tall grass and the middle of the fairway.

After you line up for a shot, the first movement in a golf swing begins as the club moves away from the golf ball. How you take the club back in the initial stages affects the whole golf swing. Many golfers incorrect­ly start the swing by rolling the club head too far to the inside with their hands and wrists. (See Photo 1.)

Alternatively, they might even push and lift the club outside as they swing away from the ball. (See Photo 2.) Either of these movements in the takeaway makes it dif­ficult to achieve an “on-plane” club position at the top of the swing.

PRACTICE: TAKEAWAY DRILL

Here is a great drill to work on your takeaway:

Lay a club on the ground about a foot behind the ball. Make sure the grip end of the club points through the ball and directly at your target. The club will help you visualize the target line and set-up to the ball. More importantly, it serves as a reference point to help you make a proper movement away from the ball.

As you commence the take­away, you are aiming to have the club head travel over the shaft and gradually move to the inside. (See Photo 3.) If your normal takeaway is to the inside, it will feel like the club is moving outside the target line. If you start the club back on an outside path, it will feel as if the club is moving inside the target Line.

During the backswing, the goal is to have an imaginary line always extending to the shaft on the ground. (See Photo 4.) If you take the club back on an inside path, your club won’t be able to go over the shaft on the ground.